Overview
- Indiana enters the College Football Playoff at 13-0 as the top seed and prepares to face Alabama in the Rose Bowl semifinal.
- Cignetti says his approach is largely drawn from Nick Saban’s program, citing lessons on standards and focus and estimating that most of his philosophy comes from his former boss.
- Greg McElroy recounts a 2009 practice where Cignetti helped spark the offense, a day that only heightened Saban’s frustration with the defense.
- Cignetti voices concern about the transfer-portal timeline opening immediately after CFP games, calling for a cleaner calendar and clearer leadership in college football.
- Alabama arrives as an underdog after a 17-point comeback over Oklahoma, with DC Kane Wommack praising safety Bray Hubbard, while Indiana eyes offensive-line stalwart Carter Smith as a potential X‑factor.